Indexing (Dividing) Head

Helps in changing the angular position of the of

the component in relation to the cutter
One of the more important attachments for
milling machine
Used to divide circumference of workpiece into
equally spaced divisions when milling gear
teeth, squares, hexagons, and octagons
Also used to rotate workpiece at predetermined
ratio to table feed rate

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 INDEXING AND DIVIDING HEADS

Indexing is the operation of dividing the periphery of a piece of work

into any number of equal parts.

In cutting spur gear equal spacing of teeth on the gear blank is

performed by indexing.

Indexing is accomplished by using a special attachment known as

dividing head or index head.

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 Index-plate universal dividing head
1-shaft; 2-index crank; 3-index-crank pin; 4-index
plate; 5-housing; 6-swivel block of housing; 7-lock; 8-
driving dog; 9-spindle; -10-plate for direct indexing;
11-tailstock. 3
The construction of the index head is shown in

Diagram of index-plate universal dividing

head
1-index plate; 2-index crank; 3-spindle; 4-worm wheel
(z=40); 5-necks to receive pick-off gears; 6-worm 4
(k=1); 7-sector.
 INDEXING HEADS

1) PLAIN DIVIDING HEAD

2) UNIVERSAL DIVIDING HEAD
3) OPTICAL DIVIDING HEAD

Plain dividing heads for Direct Indexing only

Universal dividing head for all types of Indexing

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 PLAIN DIVIDING HEAD

Used exclusively for Direct Indexing

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The construction of the index head is shown in

Diagram of index-plate universal dividing

head
1-index plate; 2-index crank; 3-spindle; 4-worm wheel
(z=40); 5-necks to receive pick-off gears; 6-worm 7
(k=1); 7-sector.
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 INDEXING METHODS

1. DIRECT INDEXING (RAPID INDEXING)

2. SIMPLE INDEXING (PLAIN INDEXING)
3. COMPOUND INDEXING
4. DIFFERENTIAL INDEXING
5. ANGULAR INDEXING

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 Direct Indexing
Direct Indexing is the simplest form of indexing. Used for
quick indexing of workpiece, e.g. hexagon, square, etc.
We use the indexing plate for direct indexing which is
mounted on the indexing spindle which also carries the
work
The number of divisions required by direct indexing is
limited by the number of holes in the direct indexing
plate.
Holes circle in direct indexing plate available are 24, 30
and 36 holes or slots.

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 PLAIN DIVIDING HEAD

Used exclusively for Direct Indexing

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 Direct indexing can also be performed on Universal diving head.

To perform this type of indexing, the worm shaft must be disengaged from
the worm gear wheel.

Since most direct indexing plate have 24 holes, all divisions of which 24 is a
divisible (24, 12, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2) can be produced with this plates.

Indexing crank movement = 24 N

Numerator indicate No. of holes in Indexing Plate (in general-24)

N No. of divisions required

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Example:
Find out the index movement required to mill a
hexagonal bolt by direct indexing. The rapid index
plate has 24 holes.

SOLUTION:
Indexing data = 24/N = 24 / 6 = 4 (means, 4 holes
on a 24 hole circle)

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 Plain Indexing
Indirect Indexing is used when the index number does
not permit direct indexing.
The worm shaft, attached to the crank, must be engaged
with the worm wheel on the indexing spindle The index
plate is secured to the head housing and has no motion
during simple indexing
The indexing spindle is rotated by the index crank, over
a worm gear set with a single thread worm and worm
gear wheel with 40 teeth.
Since there are 40 teeth on the worm wheel, one
complete turn of the index crank will cause the spindle
and the work to rotate 1/40 of a turn.
Similarly, 40 turns of the crank will rotate the work one
complete turn.
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 Universal Dividing head

1-shaft; 2-index crank; 3-index-crank pin; 4-index plate; 5-housing;

6-swivel block of housing; 7-lock; 8-driving dog; 9-spindle; -10-
plate for direct indexing; 11-tailstock. 16
Dividing head for Plain Indexing

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 Plain Indexing (Contd)
To calculate the indexing data or the number of turns of
the crank for most division, it is necessary only to divide
40 by the number of divisions to be cut. (crank
revolution)
Indexing crank movement = 40 N
N-number of required divisions
Indexing plates which are available:
Plate 1 16, 30, 33, 36, 39, 51, 57, 63
Plate 2 22, 24, 27, 29, 37, 43, 49, 59
Plate 3 23, 25, 28, 31, 41, 47, 53, 61

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Problem 1:
Calculate indexing required to cut 60 slots of the
workpiece.

Indexing crank movement = 40 N = 40 60

=23
= 12/18
(means, 12 holes on 18 hole circle.)

Problem 2:
Calculate indexing required to cut 23 slots of the
workpiece.
Problem 3:
Calculate indexing required to cut 35 slots of the
workpiece.
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 If, however, it was necessary to mill 7 slots, then the
indexing data would be:
Indexing data = 40 N = 40 7 = 5 5/7 turns of the
index crank
Five complete turns of the crank are easily made,
however, the 5/7 of a turn involves the use of the index
plate and sector arms. To get 5/7 of a turn, choose any
hole circle which is divisible by the denominator 7, such
as 28.
Then, take 5/7 of 28 = 20 (means, 20 holes on a 28 hole
circle plate).
Therefore, the indexing data for 7 slots would be 40/7 =
5 5/7 turns or 5 complete turns plus 20 holes on 28 hole
circle plate.

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 Differential Indexing
When it is impossible to calculate the required indexing
by the indirect indexing method, that is, when the fraction
40/N cannot be reduced to a factor of one of the
available hole circles, it is necessary to use differential
indexing.
With this method of indexing, the index plate is unlocked
leaving it free to turn either forward or backward a part of
a turn to attain the proper spacing or indexing (Figure
3b).
A gear train is set-up to join the outer end of the spindle
to the worm shaft. When index crank is turned to move
the spindle, the gear train will cause the index plate to
turn at the same time.
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 Differential Indexing
The rotation of the plate may be either in the same
direction (positive) or in the opposite direction (negative)
of the index crank. This change of rotation is effected by
an idler gear or gears in the gear train.
When it is necessary to calculate the indexing data for a
required number of divisions by the differential methods,
a number is chosen close to the required divisions which
can be indexed by indirect indexing.
To illustrate the principle of differential indexing, assume
that the index crank has to be rotated 1/9 of a turn and
there is only an 8 hole circle available.

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 Differential Indexing
If the crank is be moved by 1/8 of a turn, the index pin
will contact the plate at a spot after the first 1/9 turns.
The exact position of this spot would be the difference
between 1/8 and 1/9 of a revolution of the crank. This
would be 1/8 1.9 = (9-8)/72 = 1/72 of a turn more than
1/9 of a turn.
Since there is no hole at this point into which the pin
could engage, it is necessary to cause the plate to rotate
backwards by means of change gears 1/72 of a turn in
order that the pin will engage in a hole using an
arrangement as shown in Figure 3b.

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 Differential Indexing
At this point, the index crank will be locked at exactly 1/9
of a turn. The method of calculation the change gears
required to rotate the plate the proper amount is as
follows:
Change gear ratio = (A N) x 40/A
= Driver (work spindle gear) / Driven (worm shaft gear)

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 Differential Indexing
A approximate number of divisions (selected number)
N required number of divisions
When the approximate number of divisions is larger than
the required number the resulting fraction is plus and the
index plate must move in the same direction as the crank
(clockwise).
However, if the approximate number is smaller than the
required number the resulting fraction is minus and the
index plate must move in a counter clockwise direction.
The numerator of the fraction represents the driving
(work spindle) gear or gears, while the denominator
represents the driven (worm shaft) gear or gears.

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26
Differential Indexing

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Differential Indexing

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Differential Indexing

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 Angular Indexing
To eliminate the need for the counting the required
number of holes each time, the sector arms are set so
that the angle between them includes 20 holes (Figure
4).
When the angular distance between divisions is given,
(instead of the number of divisions), the set up for
indirect indexing may also be used.
However, the method of calculating the indexing data is
changed. One complete turn of the index crank turns the
work 1/40 of a turn, or 1/40 of 360 which equals to 9.
When the angular dimension is given in degrees, the
indexing data is then calculated as follows:
Indexing data in degrees = No. of degrees required/9
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Figure 4 Index Plate Adjustable Sectors

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 Angular Indexing (Contd)
E.g. Calculate the indexing data for (a) 45 and (b) 60
Indexing data for 45 = 45/9 = 5 complete turns
Indexing data for 60 = 60/9 = 6 2/3 (means, 6 complete
turns plus 22 holes on a 33 hole circle)

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